Another enjoyable book by Patricia. We learn about the lives of three generations of a family and the secrets that have been hidden.

Secrets of the past won’t remain buried.

A Family Reunion is what I’d call a ‘proper’ story. All the elements I like are present, with strong characters, a compelling plot and a real sense of place. I thoroughly enjoyed it and felt it was one of those books that would lend itself beautifully to a television series because there are secrets twists and turns that make for a really immersive narrative.

Patricia Scanlan is a consummate story teller. Whilst A Family Reunion is a compelling story of family and relationships, the author weaves geography, history, religion and sociology into it so that her reader is moved, outraged and ensnared in equal measure. I found the presentation of Ireland’s female sexual and religious emancipation as a backdrop to the narratives of Imogen, Brigid, Keelin and Marie-Claire absolutely fascinating and I was quite surprised by some if the vehemence expressed not only by the characters but also through the authorial voice too. Whilst I agreed wholeheartedly with them, I do, however, think some readers might find themselves at odds with some of the views expressed. A Family Reunion caused me to scurry off and research some of its factual references so that my reading experience was enriched and my awareness raised. This is a book that satisfies beyond the confines of its pages.

I absolutely loved having three generations of women because it felt like a natural and recognisable scenario. Brigid and Imogen have a maturity and experience that gives depth. Although I liked her least because of her bitterness and vindictiveness, I found Imogen the most fascinating. She illustrates so brilliantly how perception and imagined wrongs can fester and affect us. Indeed, Patricia Scanlan shows her readers considerable humanity as she presents four flawed and vivid women who all embody an element any reader could relate to. I thoroughly enjoyed the way layers of the past became the bedrock of the present for these four women.

I found the settings in A Family Reunion highly effective. I loved being in Africa with Brigid and now have a hankering to visit Iona. It was smashing to feel I’d been on a road trip after so many months in lockdown.

I think there are elements of A Family Reunion that will divide opinion depending on the religious beliefs and backgrounds of the reader. However, I found it an immersive and entertaining book and am glad I have finally discovered Patricia Scanlan’s writing.

What a wonderful book.
Patricia Scanlan is so talented. The detail in the story telling is amazing.
Many thanks for the advanced copy.

I love this author’s books. This was a great read but in all honesty I found this a little labouring; it was a great storyline but dragged on a little too much for me. The last quarter was the best. Loved the insight into the nuns and the characters were great. Not my favourite of all Scanlan’s book and I have absolutely loved the others. However I am sure others will love this and definitely worth adding to your bookshelf.

I will admit I read this book last year with the title of The liberation of Brigid Dunne, but I absolutely loved it and was really happy to read this book again. However this time I'm much happier with the title A Family Reunion. I really didn't like the original title. It wasn't something that leapt out and said read me, This image and the title is much more Patricia Scanlan's style and I feel it has a much more catchy title that's more in keeping with the book and hopefully more likely to be selected if spotted on a bookshelf.

What a fantastic book. Thanks to Simon & Schuster UK for the opportunity to read and review this book. for an honest review.

It starts with Marie-Claire finding out that her boyfriend has been cheating which helps her to make the decision to go back to Ireland to visit her family and for her Great Aunt Brigid's 80th Birthday party and the fireworks start here!

Its a wonderful book that covers the lives of three generations, even through Convents. Reverend Mother, Brigid, her sister Imelda, Imelda’s daughter Keelin and grand daughter Marie-Claire. It may sound unusual and maybe it is a little but its not something to put you off, it's a very well told story and although it goes into the religious side and their lives, it gives it from several points of view, and there's always heaps of drama and scandal involved.

A thoroughly good book to curl up with. I'll definitely be looking out for the books Patricia Scanlan has written that I have may have missed out on or even reread as I did with this and cant wait to get stuck into them all over again.

When four feisty women from the same family, get together at a family reunion, anything can happen…

This is an easy, quick read, perfect with a glass of wine in the bath or on holiday by the beach/pool. Good story line but ends there, not one I would discuss in length.

I have always been a fan of Patricia Scanlan and this book was no exception. I must admit when I started to read it I was getting a bit mixed up with who was who but I’m glad I stuck with it as it was an interesting read.
It’s the story of three generations of Irish woman and their struggle to accept the choices they’ve made in life.
Briiged has entered a convent while her sister Imelda stays at home on the farm to take care of their parents.
The story jumps between them as teenagers and being elderly ladies, introducing the other two characters along the way. Imelda’s daughter Keelin and her daughter Marie-Claire Who has returned to Ireland from Canada nursing a broken heart.
This story took me all round the world from Ireland, Africa France and even my hometown of Edinburgh.
A really different story to any other Patricia Scanlan ive read, very enjoyable.
Thank you Patricia Scanlan, Simon and Schuster and NetGalley for the early copy.

I have been a big fan of Patricia Scanlan for many years and I was delighted to get an opportunity to read her newest book, A Family Reunion. I can happily say I wasn't disappointed, this novel is another triumph from Scanlan, who simply never fails to deliver in her writing. I read this book over the course of a day and I can't wait to read more from the author in the future.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publishers for this ARC

This is a story of three generations of women from Ireland. We can see the difference in the lives of these women from grandmother to granddaughter and how freedom has changed for the younger generation.
Imelda has been consumed with jealousy her whole life. She's convinced that her sister Brigid became a nun just to escape life in a small village and leave all of the family chores to her. There is her jealousy that her daughter Keelin and granddaughter Marie - Claire are closer to their Aunt Bridgid than to her.
All this resentment and jealously spills over at a party one night and everyone is shocked.
Can a weekend away from Ireland unite the women or is the rift just too big to heal ?
I found this story a bit different from the usual books by this author. There is a lot about the Catholic Church and the abuse that went on and how people were losing their faith because of it.
I got a bit lost when we came to the part about vibrations etc . I didn't think that needed to be part of the story and made it a bit boring.
But that said I enjoyed the story and I like the other books by the author .

I have read many of Patrica Scanlan books and am always amazed at her ability to draw the reader into the story. This book explores three generations of Irish woman , each with their own personal story.

Marie -Claire has just been betrayed by her partner and decides to return home to Ireland from Canada to celebrate her great aunt Reverent mother Brigid’s eightieth birthday. Her mother , keelin and grandmother Imelda will also be at the party. With tensions between the generations high revelations and secrets are exposed on the birthday night. Will this spell disaster or will it bring them all closer together?

Times and attitudes have definitely changed and this was beautifully explored through the struggles and everyday lives of the woman.

I was reading this book when the long awaited report was published into mother and baby homes in NI . The hard times many young woman experienced and the lasting scars are now being brought out into the open which can only be a good thing. This book explores some of these attitudes which thankfully are now in the past .

The bonds of family, woman supporting woman and forgiveness is the strong undercurrent in this book.
I really enjoyed this thought provoking emotional book. Thank you to netgalley and the publishers for my chance to read it.

This book was originally published last year under the title of The Liberation Of Brigid Dunn and to be honest, it completely passed me by, so I was overjoyed to learn that it was been republished under the new title of A Family Reunion.

I started reading Patricia Scanlan books in my mid to late 20s, with Apartment 3B, City Girl, City Woman, City Lives and Promises Promises (I could go on!) and I have to say that every one of those books was captivating and I felt they were written for me, and this book is exactly the same.

This is the story of three generations of Irish women who have all had to face difficult times within their country or their faith. The women are all strong characters in their own way, and some you will love, and jeez, some you will loathe but gradually you will come round.

There is a lot of religious content in this book, and even though I was raised a catholic there was loads of stuff in there that I hadn’t heard of before, and I found myself googling trivia and places that are mentioned in the story – but don’t let the religious aspect put you off. Patricia actually tackles the things that have gone on in the church over the decades, and a lot of it isn’t pleasant reading, but it happened and it needs to be addressed which was done with great compassion.

If you love Maeve Binchy, you will adore this book.

I’m a long time fan of Patricia Scanlan as she has a wonderful way of describing her characters and writing their conversations. Her books are always multi-layered with so many elements of Irish society playing a role in the story, each often adding a sense of familiarity for the readers. This is certainly the case in 'A Family Reunion' as readers can recognize the local 'busybody', the 'helpful friend' (who is not really helpful) etc in the small town.
In ‘A Family Reunion’ (also known as ‘The Liberation of Bridget Dunne’), the story is primarily told from the viewpoint of four female members of the same family: sisters Brigid and Imelda, Imelda's daughter Keelin, and her daughter Marie-Claire. The story starts on Christmas Eve 1953 and quickly moves to the present day, when the family are preparing to celebrate retirement (from her religious order) and eightieth birthday. This birthday will be a long-overdue reunion for the family and also the occasion when Imelda decides to reveal some startling truths. For the remainder of the novel, the four women will struggle to deal with the revelations of the past and now to accept the repercussions.
The description of novel is hugely enticing for me – a family saga, focusing on the strong, opinionated female members and their past decisions.
However, this is the first time that I have struggled with finishing one of her books. I felt little or no empathy for Imelda and her situation and had a similar reaction to Brigid, has a result, I was not quick to finish the book as I usually would. There is no doubt that the storyline is indeed interesting and there are plenty of emotional moments to catch the readers heart; especially as we read of dreams and ambitions being stolen or thwarted. Perhaps, I struggled due to the focus on the religious life but for me this was a good but not outstanding addition to the author’s work.

A lovely story involving real historical events and characters from Irelands history.Patricia never fails to deliver a great storyline.A very good read.Pity the name was changed from original title the liberation of Bridgit Dunne.

I love Patricia Scanlan books but somehow this one just didn't grip me like her previous books . A bit disappointing from such a talented author

I can appreciate the fact that Patricia Scanlan is a very good author, her characters are well developed and in the case of Imelda, even leap off of the page and into your face. The people, the language, and the setting evoke Ireland most convincingly., but I did not enjoy this book. Perhaps at a different time of year, or in different world circumstances I might have felt differently but I found this trying and difficult to read. This was my first book by the author and I will give her another a chance as she does have a way with words.
Thank you to netgalley and the publisher for an advance copy.